Thursday, February 10, 2011

** New York EMT facing up to 20 years in jail for robbing nail salon

** New Mexico preparing to pass law making criminal background checks mandatory for EMS toilers

UNITED STATES NEWS

** A private New York EMT, who used his ambulance as a getaway car during a December 2009 hold-up, faces up to two decades in prison after being found guilty of the crime Tuesday. The New York Daily News (Thomas Zambito/February 9) said Kevin Cheeks, 44, was convicted on three counts of robbery involving the Shinki Nail Salon. According to the newspaper, Cheeks made off with both cash register funds and personal items from people in the salon at the time. He also threatened to kill those who failed to surrender demanded goods. Cheeks was foiled by police when they accessed the EMS rig’s GPS data. A witness had seen a vehicle with the unit’s insignia pulling away from the crime scene.

** A proposed New Mexico bill requiring criminal background checks for EMTs and paramedics is one step closer to becoming law, with the draft statute now endorsed by the state’s Senate Public Affairs Committee. The Silver City Sun-News (Milan Simonich/February 8) said the potential statute, known as SB 116, would require EMS applicants and current practitioners to pay not more than $75 for national checks, as well as for fingerprinting. Bill sponsor Senator Sander Rue (R-Albuquerque) said without the measure society’s most vulnerable are open to being preyed upon when they are in completely helpless situations.